The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
THE WHITNEY MAGNIFICENCE.


THE WHITNEY MAGNIFICENCE.
Manner in Which the Naval Secretary Enter
tains in This Era of Jeffersonian Simplicity.
Washington Special
When Secretary Whitney took the Frellng-
huysen house, on l street, with its hospltable
traditions, there were knowing smiles upon
many faces the owners of which faces thought
the comparison between the entertainments OF
the two families would stand out IN bold rehet
And 80 it has stood out Workmen made COM
plete transformation of the house before the new
lessees went into it last year, just about this
time. It is strange that national reputation
for large hospitality should be made In one year
On the east side of the house-lt faces soutn-a
two-story brick addition was built afordlng a
large buffers pantry connected with the
dinipg-room. In the rear beautiful ballroom
was erected sixty feet deep by twenty feet hlgn.
The constructed Upon moGel after
the style of similar rooms attached to French
palaces and the decorations harmonic with It,
The ceiling is a rounded The frieze is OF
yellow papier- mache ornamented with dancing
figures entwined in flowers The walls, from
the frieze to the dado, are hung with a rich red
silken fabric. The dado is lincrusta Walton IN
cream color and gold At one side OF the room
| is recess for the use of musicians. and the
| front is massed with foliage plants. Seats run
all around the room, covered with red silk AT the
| further end of the room magnificent fireplace
| and mantel of wood finely carved and finished In
| gold. 1t is thirteen feet wide and sixteen feet
| deep. and on each side are wooden seats About
the fireplace is thing of Sienna marble, and the
| hearth is laid with Sienna and Grothe marble.
| The skylght In the roof, with arrangements Tor
| ventilation at the sides, is the only means of
| lighting the room during the day. At night the
lighting is furnished from the sides of the room,
| and the effect is striking, the rich gold ceiling
and the red walls blending and showing wealth
| of coloring under the gasght. The floor is LAID
in oak in herring bone design, and is practically
covered with rugs, easily taken up when the floor
| iS dancing ballroom
| all its details is fine example OF the Louis XVI
| style of decoration. There are few fine paint
| ings upon the walls, among them the famous
| Sewer.
| The furniture is dainty and delicate. There
| is a silken divan in the center of the room, and
| wicker sofas and chairs have silken upholstery.
| Numerous small tables have baskets of flowers
| or curious lamps unon them. The entrance to
the ballroom is through recess from the par
| lors, and the walls and ceilings are hung with
| rich green drapery. The ball room is the living
room of the family. Here all receptions are
| held, the Frelinghuysen parlors serving but as
| vestibule for the Whitney splendor The din
| ing-room was enlarged by recess window look
| ing out into the garden in the rear. The wood
| work is ehonzed, and the walls are covered with
paper in reddish tone These beau
tiful rooms are always thronged when
| ever the house is thrown open. There
are several hundred people there on
this month. at Mrs Whitney's informal recep-
tons. Mrs. Whitney has the rare geniality of
| manner and salutation that makes each person
feel that his presence was greatly desired, and
, Immediately puts one in good humor with him
self Mrs. Whitney is an accomplished lingulst,
speaking most of the tongues of Europe fuently.
| She is much sought by the diplomatic corps, the
| distinguished members of which are always to
be met at her house. Mrs. Whitney is a brill
| liant conversationalist. and is thoroughly, we'll
| read in biography, history, the PHILOSOPHERS and
science Her sweety sympathetic voice. too,
| makes conversation with her a much coveted
daughter of Nathan Perry, probably the wealth
| lest man in northern Ohio. He possessed great
areas of real estate in Cleveland. So that,
| whilst she was nursed in luxury, there was
| always thrown about the daily life that feeling
of taking care of the expenditures that is now
one of the lost arts among modern men of money.
The power OF possession and the desire to trans
nit great fortunes to the next generation is not
the ruling passion with men of the present The
precarious hold man has upon a fortune, the
possibility that he may wake up some morning
to find it has flown from him, has superinduced
the philosophy held by many of enjoying each
day whatever of delectation can be had out OF
its twenty-four hours. Secretary and Mrs.
Whitney may breakfast upon simple oatmeal
but they sup with their friends upon the choices,
viands. Last winter Mrs. Whitney's entertain
ments We're sumptuous beyond anything ever
known in Washington. Dinners balls, recep
tons and musicales followed each other in daz
cling proximity. Small wonder the world at the
capital grew dizzy in contemplation and
|
palace but was invited to Some festivitv Ons
i week last year there were four night events a
the house besides the Wednesday afternoon re
ception. when everybody went who was any
, body and cared to see and be seen. And til.
, iafg,c the party the happier was Mrs. Whitney
It vas ..ete in .aa autumn whsn Mrs. Whjtne,
returned from Lenox to the city. The fashion
: able families had fettrned, and were living ii
seclusion in their homes. They did not know
49, I "A
! From the reports of her delicate condition tina
preceded her, expected Mrs. Whitney t
r do anything socially But in the very first wee
. of her return she gave luncheon to Mrs. Cleve
q land, invited score of ladies to meet her, fo
lowed that by another luncheon the next week
s was at home to friends Wednesdays for
series of elaborate dinners, and, like magic tn
Sleeping capital was upon its feet dancing to tn
v merry music of an early season that would hav
continued gay had NOT inc death of the EXPIRE.
ident caused halt
In personal appearance Mrs Whitney is al
that one might imagine 80 generous woman
be. Favored by nature with an exquisite figure
n shoulders arms and bust of statuesaue perfe,
Z ton, Mrs. Whitney is further blessed with
: radiant face, full of subtle. sympathetic power
d that attracts and holds attention. The beaut
ar full head IS poised upon perfect neck, the gres
"a eyes are blue, the mouth sweet and SENSITIVE
/. and the lines of cheek and chin perfect curry
L. OF beauty. The prematurely gray hair is abul
n dant, and is worn in the prevailing high coifur
,e Her well-rounded and issome figure seems mao
= for the beautiful fabrics she wears Mrs. Viii
is ney's dress is always artistic aad becoming
II suited for the occasion. Last winter she new.
le wore anything off the half mourning beaut
a full velvet bodice of lavender with tulle skirt
" worn at the British minister's ball, being tt
% only toilet off OF black and white that she wor
TT When standing in the receiving line at Il
n White House with the President, Mrs Whitnt
nt wore an evening oress OF placK SILK ana tut
that was very becoming, and superb robe
white embossed velvet, earnished with ostrit
feathers. Indeed, whatever Mrs. Whitney wea
latest seems the most suited to her, SO true
), her taste in matters of dress
TX -"
N.Y. .xk~